Let's Stir The Pot Some More; Rudy Gay Available?

There is belief around the league that injured Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay could be had in the right deal. Gay, 25, has about $68 million left on his contract for the next four years. The Grizzlies have already given Zach Randolph a monster $71 million extension this spring and Marc Gasol's expiring contract is up next.

The reason to make the trade for MEM would be to save money. Toronto has nothing to offer them financially speaking as both teams are over the cap, meaning salaries must match up within 125% +$100K of each other.

If MEM is going to deal Gay with the premise being financial relief, they'll have to look at teams under the salary cap or CLE with their TPE who can also offer cheap talent or young players on rookie deals. The teams MEM would most likely be looking at would be: LAC, MIN, CLE, SAC, and IND, in my opinion. All have a desparate need on the wing with the exception of IND who have Granger but he isn't getting any younger, healthier, or better.

Afflalo would have to be a sign and trade. MEM needed some outside shooting which was one of the reasons why Mayo was re-inserted in to the starting lineup. I could see Gallo + Mosgov + 1st rounder for Gay.

Either way, my point above was I highly, highly doubt TOR is not getting Gay.

I see no way or reason for us to get Gay, however, maybe we could be involved in a three team trade and sneak Mayo out of memphis at the same time? Or possibly chandler or Affalo (if its a sign and trade) out of Denver? Those are the only reasons I would want to be part of a Gay deal

I see no way or reason for us to get Gay, however, maybe we could be involved in a three team trade and sneak Mayo out of memphis at the same time? Or possibly chandler or Affalo (if its a sign and trade) out of Denver? Those are the only reasons I would want to be part of a Gay deal

One side note I would worry a little bit about with Rudy Gay is that you have a guy who has played for crap Memphis teams for years and has really paid his losing dues. The Grizz finally get good (and he is a big part of that - would they have made the playoffs without him?) and then he gets shipped somewhere like Toronto where he has to spend the prime of his career winning 25 games a year and playing with another group of inexperienced, constantly changing players. I can't imagine you're going to get a super-motivated guy, especially with that huge contract.

Also, there will be better offers than anything the Raps could (or should) do...

While we've seen unrealistic trades go through (Pau Gasol from Memphis, etc.), realistically speaking, we are more likely to improve via solid drafting and giving prospects a second chance at life than trading prospects away to acquire players who will likely be on the wrong side of their careers when we start to contend. Lack of patience will only hurt our future ceiling, and going through this pothole only to end up a perennial 35-45 win team again isn't exactly something I look forward to.

Consider what? We are over the cap as is MEM. The TPE can't be combined with players salaries to make the numbers match (125% + 100K). If MEM trades Gay it would be for financial relief which we cannot offer. We can consider all we want but if MEM already hung up on the other end, what is the point?

While we've seen unrealistic trades go through (Pau Gasol from Memphis, etc.), realistically speaking, we are more likely to improve via solid drafting and giving prospects a second chance at life than trading prospects away to acquire players who will likely be on the wrong side of their careers when we start to contend. Lack of patience will only hurt our future ceiling, and going through this pothole only to end up a perennial 35-45 win team again isn't exactly something I look forward to.

True and the guy is sort of weird. He says random shit to the media. And he forces his offense a lot.

Heisley emphatically put to rest rumors that he would be interested in dealing Gay this summer. "He is definitely a major part of this organization's future," Heisley said. "We have no plans whatsoever to trade him."

Keep in mind this is the same guy who said he was not intending to move the Grizz from Vancouver. I wouild tend to believe him in this situation though.

Consider what? We are over the cap as is MEM. The TPE can't be combined with players salaries to make the numbers match (125% + 100K). If MEM trades Gay it would be for financial relief which we cannot offer. We can consider all we want but if MEM already hung up on the other end, what is the point?

First, the suggestion was to trade our first round pick (and filler) for Gay. It's a fact that we are over the cap right now.

Second, anything that happens on July 1st or after is covered by the new CBA, so if you're suggesting making the trade after July 1st, you're relying on rules that haven't been decided, but sure, let's use the current CBA to cover what would happen if we kept the same rules.

Third, it's actually somewhere around $47 mil (the figure on the bottom hasn't been updated), and that's for 10 players. After the draft, it'll be over $50 mil, plus whatever other cap holds that still apply.

Fourth, the 2010-2011 salary cap was $58 mil. The owners are arguing for a $45 mil hard cap. If we assume both sides have to compromise, it's pretty safe to say next year's soft cap (if it even stays soft) will be somewhere between $45 mil and $58 mil. Let's say we err on the side of a huge player victory over the owners, so $55 mil soft cap.

Fifth, going back to our $50+ mil payroll, it's time to factor in our cap holds. That is, we will only have $5 mil cap space IF we renounce rights to ALL free agents (Reggie, Julian, Weems, Dorsey, etc.), AS WELL AS to our mid-level exception, bi-annual exception AND traded player exception credit. If we don't, then we are officially considered OVER THE CAP.